PROFILES AND PROFESSIONS OF LOCAL WOMEN
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CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024
YEAR 36
NO. 12
MAC MEETING
INSIDE YOUR
Property Crime Up 7% in CV
FORUM
New Book
Longtime CV resident’s eye-opening book on America’s presidents
By Amy Sylvestri
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Page 2
PHOTO BY MICHAEL SINGER
New Rules
Medi-Cal abandons its asset test for all categories of Medi-Cal
Page 10
CASTRO VALLEY’S BUSINESS DISTRICT: Community members share their ideas for smart growth patterns and socio-economic sustainability for the downtown district.
Downtown: Big or Small? By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Gym Cues
Five common gym cues and why they’re important to know
Page 12
INDEX Calendar ................ 4 Classified Ads ........ 8 Crosswords ............. 9 Homes ..................... 6 Obituaries ............. 11 Opinions ............... 11 Our Town ................. 3 Sports .................. 12 Weather ................ 2 Women .................... 5 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
Should Castro Valley’s business district go big or stay small? Last Wednesday, more than 50 people crammed into a meeting room at the library to debate the issue and begin to narrow down the amenities and features they want to define the middle of town.
“I encourage people to think about our children and families,” said resident Silvia Lambert. “We’re not going to compete for business with cities like Oakland or Berkeley because we are a bedroom community. But we can create something special here… a place where parents want to settle down and raise families.” The business district covers 290 acres and is see DOWNTOWN on page 5
Crime is down overall in Castro Valley, but property crimes continue to plague the area, according to an update given to the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office at Monday night’s meeting. Sergeant Marcus Cox gave the MAC a statistical breakdown of 2023’s crime numbers, reporting that total “person crimes” such as murder and assault are down 23 percent from 2022. “Crimes against people are usually targeted, and the public’s fear shouldn’t be there,” said Cox. However, property crimes are up 7 percent, including robberies and car break-ins. Cox lamented the “decriminalization” of property crimes and said that shoplifting and “bipping” (the breaking of a car window to smash and grab belongings inside) lately go unprosecuted due to state mandates on felony minimum thefts. “We are feeling that,” said Cox. “Castro Valley itself is feeling that.” He added that Safeway, TJ Maxx, Ross, see MAC on page 11
LaPonte’s Journey: CVSC to National League come a college All-American. And mom Debbie, too, after having been one of the best runners in the country for her A funny thing happened when Jen LaPonte received a age group as a Castro Valley youth. Heck, even older sister call recently from a member Jessica was a Junior Olympian of the Castro Valley Sports as a cross country runner. Hall of Fame selection committee. She wondered if they But Jen LaPonte, who has wanted to talk to her mom or taken the path from the Castro her dad. Valley Soccer Club to the NaNo doubt, dad Lance is wor- tional Women’s Soccer League thy of consideration based on (NWSL) despite encountering having been a standout three- many hurdles, can trump them all. And that’s why she got the sport athlete at Castro Valley High before graduating to be- call. By Dave Del Grande
SPECIAL TO THE FORUM
Not without the family’s help, mind you. “I’m super-fortunate with what my parents gave me,” assures a true Castro Valley native who was even born in town. “I played for clubs in Mountain View, Danville … They drove me everywhere. I even started out homeschooled so I could have a better schedule. There is nothing I could have done without them. They have given me everything.” That included time to dabble
in gymnastics and compete in track and cross country in high school—all when the family wasn’t wakeboarding or snowboarding somewhere. But LaPonte preferred soccer, she says, because “I just loved the physicality of it. And it’s a tactical game, too. It makes you use your talents not just physically but mentally as well, which I enjoyed.” Most of the time, such as when the 2008 Castro Valley High graduate, a defender most see LAPONTE on back page
Jen LaPonte